DANIELLE O’KEANE, 37: MOTHER-OF-TWO DIES DAYS AFTER WESTLIFE CONCERT RICKSHAW CRASH

A night that was meant to be filled with music, laughter and memories has ended in heartbreak for a young family from Newry.

Danielle O’Keane, a 37-year-old mother of two from Saval, Newry, has died several days after suffering a devastating brain injury in a rickshaw crash in Dublin following a Westlife concert.

Danielle had travelled to Dublin with three friends on September 26 to enjoy the concert at the 3Arena. After the show, the group took a motorised rickshaw toward Dublin city centre, where they planned to meet Danielle’s husband, Dave, and their friends’ partners.

Instead, the journey ended in tragedy.

A JOYFUL NIGHT TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE

The rickshaw was travelling along North Wall Quay at around 11pm when the incident happened.

According to reports, the vehicle struck a kerb or divider and overturned. Danielle suffered devastating injuries and was rushed to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, where she remained in intensive care.

Her family were later told that she had suffered a life-ending brain injury.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate exactly what happened and have appealed to members of the public who may have witnessed the collision or captured footage on dashcams.

HER FAMILY WAS STILL HOLDING ON TO HOPE

During the days Danielle remained in hospital, her family gathered around her and hoped for a different outcome.

Her sister-in-law Aisling described Danielle as loving, selfless and completely devoted to her family.

Another relative described her as someone who was “full of life” and had a “heart of gold.”

Danielle was also looking forward to something special.

She, Dave and their two young sons, Caolán and Cillian, were due to travel to Mallorca for their first family holiday together in early October.

The bags had already been packed.

The family had been making plans for a trip that was supposed to become a happy memory for their children. Instead, they are now facing an unimaginable loss.

A MOTHER LEAVES BEHIND TWO YOUNG SONS

Danielle was the mother of Caolán, five, and Cillian, two.

Her family said her life revolved around her husband and children, and tributes have poured in since news of her death emerged.

A funeral notice described Danielle as the “much loved wife” of Dave and the “dear mother” of Caolán and Cillian.

She was also remembered as the beloved daughter of Michael and Pauline and sister of Barry and her twin brother Sean.

WESTLIFE ALSO REACHED OUT

Danielle’s night in Dublin had begun with a Westlife concert — an event she had reportedly been particularly excited about because going out like this was a rare occasion for her.

Her family later said the band had reached out to them following the tragedy.

What should have been a simple night of music with friends became the final night of Danielle’s life.

GARDAÍ APPEAL FOR DASHCAM FOOTAGE

Gardaí are now seeking information that could help establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

They have asked anyone who was travelling around North Wall Quay between approximately 10:30pm and 11:15pm on September 26 and who may have dashcam or other camera footage to contact investigators.

The investigation remains ongoing.

A COMMUNITY RALLIES AROUND THE FAMILY

A fundraiser established to help Danielle’s family has received an enormous response from people in Ireland and beyond.

More than £100,000 was raised within days, with the total later reported at more than £128,000.

The donations reflect the impact Danielle had on those around her — and the sympathy felt for a family whose future changed in a matter of seconds.

Danielle was only 37.

She was a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend who had gone out to enjoy a night with people she loved.

Now, her family is preparing to say goodbye while investigators continue working to understand exactly what happened that night in Dublin.